Red Rants |
| Posted: 25 Jan 2014 01:36 PM PST A picture speaks louder than a thousand words. Juan Mata is a Red!
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| Juan Mata: An overexcited analysis Posted: 25 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST
Followers of football, it is said, have some of the shortest memories around. If the transfer saga involving Juan Mata, who today completed his £37 million move to Manchester United to Chelsea, is anything to go by, they might be getting shorter by the month. To a certain extent, Chelsea fans can be forgiven for their sluggish recollection ability. Following a slow start under Jose Mourinho, the Stamford Bridge Victory Machine has ground into forebodingly full flow, efficiently churning out win after win after win as the season enters its inevitably tense denouement. They now sit two just two points off the top of the Premier League, having scored as many goals as Arsenal, the competition's current leader. Mata has hardly featured in this impressive ascent, meaning that for many Chelsea fans, Mourinho's selection policy has been proved justified.
Yet it is easy to forget, especially after several frantic days of rumour and negotiation, that Mata's move is a surprising one for all concerned. In the cold light of day, of course, it is highly shocking that Chelsea would deem it sensible to sell the man who has comfortably walked away with their Player of the Year award in the last two seasons. After all, if Chelsea fans had been informed of this move would six months ago, there would likely have been a fan mutiny of considerable proportions at Stamford Bridge. Granted, there are ways to justify the Mata transfer from a Chelsea point of view. From one perspective, the money United are offering for an out of favour player is too good to turn down, especially when the club's net spend has fluctuated between -£70m and -90m over the last four years. The suits at Chelsea, after all, have Financial Fair Play regulations to bear in mind. Yet even now, their ominously potent attacking threat – currently comprising of a first choice line-up of Edin Hazard, Oscar and Willian – is, as United will be able to qualify, always just one or two injuries away from assuming a distinctly average character once again. Their backup is no longer all that substantial. It's also a surprising move from United's perspective. True, this is a United team crying out for reinforcements, particularly in central midfield. They could do with a left back, too, and perhaps a winger or two. A new No.10 will hardly have been top of the wish-list for the majority of the club's followers. It didn't seem to be an immediate priority United management over the summer, either, with Moyes rumoured apparently turning down the opportunity to acquire Mezut Ozil from Real Madrid when news spread about the player's availability. The argument goes that with a prospering Wayne Rooney, the mercurial Shinji Kagawa, fan favourite Danny Welbeck and the exciting potential talent of Adnan Januzaj amongst their ranks, a new playmaker is hardly amongst the top necessities at Old Trafford. Where, exactly, does Mata fit in to Moyes' Master Plan?
More importantly – and make no mistake about this – Mata is a player cut truly from the finest cloth. His numbers have proven consistently startling: Since August 2011, he put on more assists (27) than any other player in the Premier League with the exception of David Silva. The player in third position in that list is Wayne Rooney, his new team-mate. When combined with the 18 goals he has netted himself, Mata has been involved with 45 goals in the league across this same time period, more than anyone else except Robin Van Persie, with whom he will also line up with at Old Trafford. Mata is a proven performer. He scored for Chelsea on his debuts in the Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League, League Cup and Club World Cup and is the only player, along with Fernando Torres, to hold the Europa League, Champions League, World Cup and European Championship simultaneously. He also has an extensive track record of delivering in the biggest of big games: most notably, there was his assist for Didier Drogba's header in the 2012 Champions League Final, another for Branislav Ivanovic's winner in the 2013 Europa League Final, and his goal in the Euro 2012 final against Italy. Nor does he arrive at Old Trafford unproven in the Premier League. United have spent big on foreign talent before – the £24 million signing of Juan Sebastian Verón in particular springs to mind – but rarely have they invested big money on players already possessing proven ability to acclimatise to the league. The recent case of Shinji Kagawa is proof enough of the pricey risk of acquiring talent which has thrived abroad but perhaps lacks the specific physical requirements to prosper in England. Mata, of course, is already entirely acclimatised to the pace of the league. And at just 25, he could potentially play at the club for many years to come. He is, after all, 15 days younger than the recently departed Anderson, and three years younger than Rooney. Another, rarely discussed positive to look forward to from the transfer will be the valuable expertise that Mata will bring in terms of set-piece delivery, an area where United have persistently struggled in recent years, with the brief exception of Robin van Persie last season. Indeed, the club are all too aware of his ability, having been on the receiving end of his excellent direct free kick strike which won a fixture at Old Trafford for Chelsea in the 87th minute at the end of last season. But Mata's signing goes far beyond statistics and tactical mechanics. Despite his limited playing time this season, the Spaniard, as one of the finest attacking talents in world football, is an inspiring statement signing. His acquisition will come as a relief to many, for it proves that United, despite their traumatic 2013/14 to date, are still capable of attracting the game's most glamorous and exciting names. Cultured, stylish, intelligent and talented, Mata is exactly the sort of personality Manchester United should be clambering to get through their doors. For Moyes, Mata is undoubtedly something of a slightly desperate and unimaginative panic buy. Fortunately for him and United, he'll undoubtedly prove to be an extremely exhilarating and ruthlessly effective one. |
| Mata can be United’s Special Juan Posted: 25 Jan 2014 07:07 AM PST
Many fans feel that the Mata money should be reserved for in reinforcements in other areas. Michael Carrick's most recent injury merely intensifies David Moyes' already desperate need to strengthen in the central midfield area, while Patrice Evra's persistent poor form makes the purchase of a new left-back a matter of urgency. However, both Moyes, in press conferences, and myself, on this website, have previously acknowledged the difficulties of bringing in players of suitable quality in the frenzy of the January transfer market. With Leighton Baines set to sign a new contract at Everton, Luke Shaw moving closer to a big-money summer move to Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti's "nobody in, nobody out" declaration thwarting any potential swoop for Fabio Coentrao, United will almost certainly have to wait until the summer to procure a new left back.
It has also been suggested, most prominently by ex-Red Gary Neville, that Mata does not fit in with the Manchester United philosophy. It is likely that this refers to United's historical preference for natural wide-players, who provide a constant supply of quality crosses, contrasted with Mata's strength with regards cutting inside to play more precise through-balls or shooting. However, it is easy to overstate this point. Adnan Janujaz (who himself has been stationed in a central role recently) is United's first left footed left-winger since Ryan Giggs' reincarnation as a central midfielder, with Nani, Ji Sung Park and Wayne Rooney among the array of right-footers who have filled the role in recent years.
There have also been question marks over where Mata fits into this current United side, which, on the face of it, seems rather bizarre. Adnan Januzaj, who is still just 18, and Wayne Rooney are the only two members of David Moyes' outfield playing staff to have impressed this season and the former Valencia man can occupy a central attacking role just as comfortably as one on the flanks. Given Rooney's current absence through injury, Mata will likely make his United bow in his reportedly preferred "Number 10? position, allowing Januzaj to return to the left flank. While the Brussels-born starlet has impressed during his recent spell in a central area, his penalty miss against Sunderland provided a timely reminder of his tender years, and he will doubtless benefit from Mata sharing the creative burden. Upon Rooney's return, the Liverpudlian will likely play centrally, flanked by Mata and Januzaj, in support of a lone striker. With one of the left-footed wide-men likely to prefer cutting inside, this would represent a stylistic change, but one that should be welcome. David Moyes has shown a surprising loyalty to crossing this season, given the lackluster contributions from wide areas and the lack of an aerial presence in the penalty area. This approach has been largely unsuccessful, and has rightly drawn widespread criticism. Moreover, since the 2009 departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, there has been a feeling that United require more subtlety (some may say pure quality) in their attacking play, and Mata's arrival would certainly facilitate that, as well as a much-needed alternative to a barrage of unsuccessful crosses. David Moyes has been desperate to transform the fortunes of his new charges, but has so far failed to do so. The purchase of Mata; somewhat startling given that the sellers are English counterparts Chelsea, gives him an opportunity to do just that. Arsenal's position at the peak of the Premier League serves to illustrate the magnitude of the effect signing a world-class player can have on the entirety of a football club, having been boosted by the September signing of Mesut Özil. The Gunners began the season with a defeat as humbling as any suffered by United this season; a 3-1 reverse at home to Aston Villa. The result left players looking for inspiration, fans despondent and Arsene Wenger cutting an increasingly frustrated figure on the touchline. The £42.5m capture of the German maestro transformed the mood of the entire club and, similarly, just as important as Mata's performances on the pitch is likely to be the galvanising effect his arrival will have on everyone linked with Manchester United. The players, too many of whom are currently underperforming, will feel a new enthusiasm for the task at hand. The fans, currently frustrated by their side's lack of inspiration, will have a new magician to hail, likely in the legendary Number 7 shirt. And, boy, does David Moyes need a boost? Moyes has so far been the man who took United to seventh place, the man whose shambolic summer transfer activity culminated in the disastrous purchase of Marouane Fellaini and the man who oversaw the disintegration of Sir Alex Ferguson's dynasty. Now he is the man who has broken Manchester United's transfer record, to make a truly world-class acquisition, from a domestic rival. The signing of Juan Mata, which may well be swiftly followed by others, signals that Moyes' quest to rebuild Manchester United has begun in earnest. Sam |
Juan Mata's transfer from Chelsea to Manchester United has been met with a mixed reaction, somewhat surprisingly. A substantial proportion of United fans are more than a little skeptical about the move, citing the hefty reported transfer fee of £37million and more pressing concerns in other areas of the side. However, David Moyes has been presented with the rare opportunity to purchase a world-class operator in the mid-season window and has rightly taken it.
Meanwhile, Yohan Cabaye has emerged as the stand-out candidate to revitalise the Red Devils' engine room, due to some outstanding recent performances. It cannot be disputed that the Frenchman would address a more glaring weakness in the United side, but he does not possess Mata's aura. In a similar way to Mesut Özil's arrival at Arsenal, the former Chelsea playmaker's arrival will galvanise every single Manchester United fan and player, not to mention beleaguered manager, David Moyes, moving towards the business end of the season. Despite its more economical (but still not cheap) and practical nature, a move for Cabaye would not have the same overall effect on the club. In any case, many sources have reported that the Glazer family are prepared to grant Moyes a transfer kitty in excess of £100million, so there is no reason why both Cabaye and Mata will not both be Red Devils by February 1st. Such a double purchase would be expensive, but so would missing out on next season's Champions League.
David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo were the Red Devils' two most potent right-sided weapons of the last decade, but stylistically, they could not be much more different. Mata has his own unique style of unlocking defences, based on exceptional movement and vision, which will be a much needed boost to David Moyes, as he endeavours to engineer a return to United's winning traditions. Furthermore, maverick players, who can inspire a team to victory with their individual brilliance, are also engrained in United history. Eric Cantona, Wayne Rooney and Paul Scholes, not to mention Ronaldo and Beckham, are just some examples of superstars capable of turning a match in the Reds' favour and Mata is not out of place in such esteemed company.| You are subscribed to email updates from Red Rants To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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